Tennessee: Pro-Gun Legislation Moving in Nashville

Tennessee: Pro-Gun Legislation Moving in Nashville Yesterday, the Tennessee Senate passed Senate Bill 1496 by a 26 to 7 vote.  Sponsored by state Senator Stacey Campfield (R-7), SB 1496 aims to prevent municipalities from passing and enforcing ordinances that ban the carrying of firearms in city, county and municipal parks.  This legislation would allow law-abiding Tennesseans with a Handgun Carry Permit (HCP) to carry a firearm into all state, city, county and municipal parks, and prevent a patchwork of laws across the state regarding which localities have prohibited firearms in their parks. On February 5, the companion bill to SB 1496, House Bill 1407, sponsored by state Representative Tilman Goins (R-10), was taken off the calendar for a hearing in the House Civil Justice Subcommittee and is to be placed on a "special" firearms calendar to be set for sometime in March.  In order for SB1496/HB1407 to make it to Governor Haslam for approval, HB 1407 has to receive a hearing in the House Civil Justice Subcommittee.  It is important that you contact members of the House Civil Justice Subcommittee TODAY and respectfully urge them to hear and act soon on House Bill 1407. Also this week, Senate Bill 1700/House Bill 1404 and Senate Bill 1701 were passed and have been transmitted to Governor Haslam for his signature. SB 1700, sponsored by state Senator Mark Green (R-22), and its companion bill HB 1404, state that incidental exposure of a firearm during the course of securing that firearm in a locked vehicle does not violate state law with regards to having a firearm in a locked vehicle on an employer's parking lot. SB 1701, also sponsored by Senator Green, redefines "motor vehicle" under Tennessee's parking lot law to include all vehicles lawfully possessed by the permit holder with the exception of government or business owned vehicles. Using the contact information provided below, please call AND e-mail members of the House Civil Justice Subcommittee and respectfully urge them to hear and act soon on House Bill 1407.    House Civil Justice Subcommittee: Representative Jim Coley (R-27) , Chairman (615) 741-8201 rep.jim.coley@capitol.tn.gov   Representative Mike Carter (R-29) (615) 741-3025 rep.mike.carter@capitol.tn.gov   Representative Vance Dennis (R-71) (615) 741-2190 rep.vance.dennis@capitol.tn.gov   Representative Andrew Farmer (R-17) (615) 741-4419 rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov   Representative Sherry Jones (D-59) (615) 741-2035 rep.sherry.jones@capitol.tn.gov   Representative Jon Lundberg (R-1) (615) 741-7623 rep.jon.lundberg@capitol.tn.gov   Representative Mike Stewart (D-52) (615) 741-2184 rep.mike.stewart@capitol.tn.gov   Representative Rick Womick (R-34) (615) 741-2804 rep.rick.womick@capitol.tn.gov    National Rifle Association - Institute for Legislative Action * 11250 Waples Mill Road * Fairfax, VA 22030

John Hames